The paper attempts to look at the problems of Soviet society in the period of 1964-1985 through the eyes of Anatoly Sergeevich Chernyaev, a professional historian and, at the same time, a responsible employee of the Central Committee of the CPSU, who served for many years in the Central Committee apparatus and took part in the preparation of many Brezhnev’s speeches. Having written voluminous memories, Chernyaev is rightfully considered one of the most authoritative and thoughtful chroniclers of a huge era - from Stalin to the USSR collapse.